Asymmetrical bleach activators and compositions employing the same

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/US97/18568 Sec. 371 Date Apr. 15, 1999 Sec. 102(e) Date Apr. 15, 1999 PCT Filed Oct. 10, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO98/16609 PCT Pub. Date Apr. 23, 1998The present invention discloses asymmetrical bleach activators for use in both solid and liquid additive, bleaching and detergent compositions. The asymmetrical bleach activators display the unique ability to form both hydrophilic and hydrophobic bleaching agents in aqueous liquors such as bleaching solutions. Thus, fabrics, hard surfaces or dishes having hydrophobic stains such as dingy and or hydrophilic stains such as beverages can be effectively cleaned or bleached using the bleach activators of the present invention.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bleach activator compound having the formula: ##STR32## wherein spacer group Z is selected from the group consisting of C 2  -C 16  linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, aryl, and ##STR33## wherein m=1 to 10 and each of R 4  -R 7  are independently selected from H and CH 3  ; wherein the group G can be R 1  or R 3  ; R 1  is a C 7  -C 13  linear or branched chain saturated or unsaturated alkyl group and R 3  is a C 1  -C 4  linear or branched chain saturated or unsaturated alkyl group.   
     
     
       2. The bleach activator compound as claimed in claim 1 wherein R 1  is a C 7  -C 11  linear or branched saturated alkyl group. 
     
     
       3. The bleach activator as claimed in claim 2 wherein R 3  is CH 3 . 
     
     
       4. The bleach activator compound as claimed in claim 1 wherein R 1  is a linear C8 or C 9  saturated alkyl group and R 3  is CH 3 . 
     
     
       5. A bleach additive composition comprising: i) from about 0.1% to about 70% by weight of the composition of an asymmetrical bleach activator having the formula: ##STR34## wherein spacer group Z is selected from the group consisting of C 2-C   16  linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, aryl, and ##STR35## wherein m=1 to 10 and each of R 4  -R 7  are independently selected from H and CH 3  ;   wherein the group G can be R 1  or R 3  ; R 1  is a C 7  -C 13  linear or branched chain saturated or unsaturated alkyl group and R 3  is a C 1  -C 4  linear or branched chain saturated or unsaturated alkyl group; and   ii) from about 0.1% to about 99.9% by weight of the composition of conventional additive ingredients selected from the group consisting of: nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, chelating agents, polymeric soil release agents, hydrogen peroxide source, bleach catalysts, enzymes; builders and mixtures thereof.   
     
     
       6. The bleach additive composition as claimed in claim 5 wherein R 1  is a C 7  -C 11  linear or branched saturated alkyl group. 
     
     
       7. The bleach additive composition as claimed in claim 6 wherein R 3  is CH 3 . 
     
     
       8. The bleach additive composition as claimed in claim 5 wherein R 1  is a linear C 8  or C 9  saturated alkyl group and R 3  is CH 3 . 
     
     
       9. The bleach additive composition as claimed in claim 5 wherein said conventional additive ingredient comprises a nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
       10. The bleach additive composition as claimed in claim 5 wherein said bleach additive is in liquid form and further comprises from about 0.1% to about 60% by weight of an emulsifying system or a thickening system. 
     
     
       11. The bleach additive composition as claimed in claim 10 wherein said emulsifying system has an HLB value which ranges from about 8 to about 15. 
     
     
       12. The bleach additive composition as claimed in claim 11 wherein said emulsifying system comprises one or more nonionic surfactants. 
     
     
       13. The bleach additive composition as claimed in claim 11 wherein said emulsifying system comprises a nonionic surfactant and said nonionic surfactant is a nonionic alkyl ethoxylate. 
     
     
       14. A bleaching composition comprising: i) from about 0.1% to about 70% by weight of the composition of an asymmetrical bleach activator having the formula: ##STR36## wherein spacer group Z is selected from the group consisting of C 2  -C 16  linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, aryl, and ##STR37## wherein m=1 to 10 and each of R 4  -R 7  are independently selected from H and CH 3  ;   wherein the group G can be R 1  or R 3  ; R 1  is a C 7  -C 13  linear or branched chain saturated or unsaturated alkyl group and R 3  is a C 1  -C 4  linear or branched chain saturated or unsaturated alkyl group; and   ii) from about 0.1% to about 70% by weight of the composition of a source of hydrogen peroxide.   
     
     
       15. The bleaching composition as claimed in claim 14 wherein R 1  is a C 7  -C 11  linear or branched saturated alkyl group. 
     
     
       16. The bleaching composition as claimed in claim 15 wherein R 3  is CH 3 . 
     
     
       17. The bleaching composition as claimed in claim 14 wherein R 1  is a linear C 8  or C 9  alkyl group and R 3  is CH 3 . 
     
     
       18. The bleaching composition as claimed in claim 14 wherein said composition further comprises from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the composition of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       19. The bleaching composition as claimed in claim 18 wherein said surfactant is a nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
       20. The bleaching composition as claimed in claim 14 wherein said composition further comprises from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the composition of an ingredient selected from the group consisting of chelating agents, polymeric soil release agents, bleach catalysts, enzymes, builders and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       21. The bleaching composition as claimed in claim 14 wherein said source of hydrogen peroxide selected from the group consisting of perborate, percarbonate, hydrogen peroxide and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       22. The bleaching composition as claimed in claim 14 wherein said composition is formulated as a microemulsion of said bleach activator in a matrix comprising water, said hydrogen peroxide source and a hydrophilic surfactant system comprising a nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
       23. The bleaching composition as claimed in claim 14, wherein said composition is formulated as an aqueous emulsion comprising at least a hydrophilic surfactant having an HLB above 10 and at least a hydrophobic surfactant having an HLB up to 9, wherein said bleach activator is emulsified by said surfactants. 
     
     
       24. The bleaching composition as claimed in claim 14, wherein said composition is formulated in granular form. 
     
     
       25. A method for bleaching soiled fabrics comprising the step of contacting soiled fabrics to be bleached with an aqueous bleaching liquor, said bleaching liquor including an effective amount of the bleaching composition according to claim 14. 
     
     
       26. A method for bleaching soiled fabrics comprising the step of contacting soiled fabrics to be bleached with an aqueous bleaching liquor, said bleaching liquor including an effective amount of the bleach additive composition according to claim 5 and an effective amount of hydrogen peroxide.